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Bay Harbour: April 03, 2024

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18 <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News Wednesday <strong>April</strong> 3 <strong>2024</strong><br />

Classy, quality European feel to Amarok<br />

MEET THE Volkswagen<br />

Amarok, the German sibling of<br />

the latest Ford Ranger and an<br />

interesting alternative to one of<br />

our best selling Utes.<br />

This model sharing arrangement<br />

between two of the heavy<br />

hitters of the car world – one<br />

from North America the other<br />

Europe – is an interesting alliance<br />

and precursor to other<br />

models expected to spawn.<br />

The current all-conquering<br />

third generation Ranger current<br />

is armed with something for everyone,<br />

with a 15 strong line-up,<br />

comprising 2WD and 4WD versions,<br />

and the choice of single,<br />

super, and double cab body<br />

styles. By contrast the Amarok<br />

is more of a niche market dabbler<br />

operating off the back of a<br />

modest four-model line-up, all<br />

doubles cabs and 4WD. Prices<br />

start at $65,000 for the Life and<br />

peak at $90,000 for the Aventura<br />

V6 turbo diesel.<br />

Conceived and designed in<br />

Germany and Australia, the<br />

new Amarok is battle-hardened<br />

to meet the challenging roads,<br />

terrain and climates both here<br />

and across the Tasman. All<br />

models have impeccable safety<br />

Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />

credentials and are armed with<br />

maximum 5 Star ANCAP safety<br />

ratings.<br />

Even the price leading $65,000<br />

Life is an attractive package,<br />

powered, albeit meekly, by a<br />

2.0L 125kW turbo diesel that<br />

develops 405Nm of torque and<br />

is hitched to a 6-speed automatic.<br />

With 17” alloy wheels,<br />

rear mechanical differential<br />

lock, LED headlights, heated<br />

exterior mirrors, multifunction<br />

leather steering wheel and<br />

12” touchscreen infotainment,<br />

there’s nothing budget about this<br />

member of the Amarok family,<br />

apart from its price. Safety is<br />

up to the mark with Lane Keep<br />

Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Traffic<br />

Sign Recognition, Adaptive<br />

Cruise Control and Autonomous<br />

Emergency Braking.<br />

There are high expectations in<br />

the Volkswagen camp around the<br />

$75,000 Style with a 2.0L 154kW<br />

500Nm diesel engine plucked<br />

straight from the Ford Ranger<br />

parts bin. It’s nicely appointed<br />

with 18” alloy wheels, LED Matrix<br />

headlights, 12” touchscreen<br />

infotainment, ambient lighting,<br />

and keyless entry and remote<br />

start. There’s a nice bonus for all<br />

Amarok owners in the form of<br />

a standard across-the-range tow<br />

bar.<br />

The high spec $88,000 Amarok<br />

Pan Americana being reviewed<br />

here has a stronger off-road bias.<br />

If you need a large combative<br />

and capable Ute in most terrain,<br />

this one fits the bill with its lusty<br />

V6 diesel. Features include exclusive<br />

black 18" alloy wheels shod<br />

with all-terrain tyres, heated<br />

leather seats, and a 12” touchscreen<br />

infotainment system. The<br />

driving assistance package offers<br />

Park Assist and Intelligent Adaptive<br />

Cruise control, among other<br />

things,.<br />

The sophisticated, confident<br />

urban orientated Aventura that<br />

shares the turbo V6 diesel is an<br />

attention grabber with 20" alloy<br />

wheels, exterior chrome styling<br />

accents, and body-coloured<br />

sports bar. Among a raft of new<br />

driver assistance features there’s<br />

an excellent Area View Camera.<br />

The Pan Americana packs<br />

plenty of punch with a muscular<br />

3.0L 184kW V6 turbo diesel<br />

packing a mighty 600Nm of<br />

torque, but it isn’t squeaky green<br />

enough to dodge the government’s<br />

maximum $6,900 clean<br />

vehicle fee. It’s fitted with a<br />

full-time 4WD system with six<br />

selectable drive modes, Normal,<br />

Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery for onroad,<br />

and Mud/Ruts and Sand<br />

for off-road. Tow/Haul mode<br />

cleverly manipulates gearshift<br />

timing to maintain power for hill<br />

Rating out of 10: Performance 8, Handling 8, Build Quality<br />

7, Comfort 7, Passenger and Load Space 8, Avg consumption<br />

on road test 11.6L/100km, Value for money 7, Safety<br />

– Five Star ANCAP crash rating, clean car fee $6,900. Overall<br />

points out of 10: 8<br />

climbing, or the right measure of<br />

engine braking on downhill gradients.<br />

Maximum braked towing<br />

is a useful 3,500 kg.<br />

The V6 turbo diesel lifts the<br />

performance bar for its class to<br />

new lofty heights, with a clever<br />

by-pass set-up for power allows<br />

the turbochargers to work at<br />

lower engine speeds for increased<br />

responsiveness. Alternatively<br />

the smaller turbo can<br />

be bypassed allowing the larger<br />

one to blow into action to deliver<br />

greater power.<br />

This is just some of the ‘behind<br />

the scenes’ technical magic<br />

that conjures up such an ultra<br />

smooth and responsive motor<br />

delivering a memorable on- and<br />

off-road driving experience.<br />

What ever is thrown its way is<br />

dealt with effortlessly like few<br />

other diesel Utes I’ve driven.<br />

This is the sparkling jewel in<br />

the Amarok crown. What really<br />

stands out about this engine is<br />

its silent running characteristics,<br />

a remarkable engineering feat<br />

given diesels are noisy by nature.<br />

The 10-speed automatic is the<br />

perfect match for this strong and<br />

more vibrant V6, with its quick<br />

and intuitive gear changes.<br />

The well-appointed and finished<br />

passenger compartment is<br />

noticeably larger than its aging<br />

predecessor, with the biggest<br />

and soon to be most appreciated<br />

improvement is the amount of<br />

additional rear leg and headroom.<br />

There’s a classy, modern<br />

and quality European feel that<br />

permeates into almost every corner<br />

of the test Ute. This gives the<br />

Volkswagen an important point<br />

of difference over its blue-ovalbadged<br />

sibling. The car is put<br />

together with careful attention;<br />

exactly what you would expect<br />

from a vehicle sporting the name<br />

plate of one of Europe’s biggest<br />

vehicle manufacturers. Nice incabin<br />

touches include wireless<br />

phone charging and an 8 Way<br />

Driver Power seat.<br />

An on-demand 4WD system<br />

allows the vehicle to be driven<br />

in four-wheel drive on hightraction<br />

surfaces via its 4A<br />

automatic mode. When engaged,<br />

it continuously and seamlessly<br />

distributes power between the<br />

front and rear axles for the best<br />

performance in all conditions.<br />

The way this sizeable Ute glides<br />

through corners with poise and<br />

balance is a credit to the team<br />

who designed and developed<br />

it. Ride comfort is outstanding<br />

both on road and off the beaten<br />

track. During my limited off<br />

road excursions, the test vehicle<br />

was surprisingly at ease and took<br />

every opportunity to show off its<br />

formidable 4WD abilities. This is<br />

a more than worthy replacement<br />

for the outgoing Amarok.<br />

It’s a huge step forward, thanks<br />

to Ford.<br />

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